Step 1 – Landscaping Ideas for Small Front and Backyards

What do you love doing outdoors?

Raised Beds for Edible Landscaping Before and After

It’s probably not yard work! Your landscape is going to need maintenance. It’s always alive, but we can start with low maintenance plants and lawn.

Do you only see work? Don’t worry about the tasks involved, focus on your ideal outdoor room or outdoor living space!

Small Front Yard and Backyard Ideas

Entertainment – Keep lawn space open for easy movement. Create an entryway for interest. Entryways focus our eyesight on a focal point ahead like a statue, sculpture, table, etc.

This patio needs privacy for entertainment and sunbathing. Before and after five years later.

Relaxing – Back to the low maintenance thing. Choose a minimum amount of shrubs with wide spacing and a shade tree for the western summer sun.

Sunbathing – Southern and West facing landscapes. Add privacy with evergreens.

Sports – You need lawn space, don’t choose too many plants. Keep it simple. I like to see the backyard encircled with plants to frame the garden room, then add green space in the middle. Shape your lawn in an oval, rectangle, or square to make an ideal playing field.

Attracting Wildlife – Butterfly garden, Wild birds, brown hares, turkeys, white tail deer…Certain plants bloom at certain times. Choose plants that bloom throughout the year to attract pollinators. If you want to keep wildlife away from your edible plants, build raised beds.

Photography

Edible gardening – Choose a sunny location. It’s very difficult to grow veggies in the shade.

As Little As Possible (low maintenance), Landscaping as an Investment, Easy to Take Care of – Choose slow growing evergreens like Taxus x media (Anglojap Yew) and space them appropriately. Don’t install too many items at once. Plants need TLC for the first few years then become self sufficient.